87% of UK homes now receive digital TV

The latest figures from Ofcom indicate that 86.7% of UK homes were receiving digital television by the end of last year.

The proportion increased by 1.6% during the final three months of 2007, largely as a result of record sales for Freeview. Approximately four million Freeview products were sold in the quarter, including 243,000 digital TV newcomers.

Freeview sales during the final quarter were up nearly 70% year-on-year with sales of integrated digital TVs up 132%. According to Ofcom, IDTV sales exceeded those of set top boxes by a significant margin for the first time in Q4 2007.

Sky gained 145,000 net additions, free-to-view satellite added 50,000 and Virgin Media recorded its best quarter since 2000 with 61,100 net new customers.

Freeview’s DTT equipment sales passed the 27 million mark for the first time since its launch in October 2002.